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Beacon Theatre Night One: Recap, Photos & Set List!

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Long after Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers took a final bow at the lip of the stage in front of a sold-out Beacon Theatre and the grateful crowd exited after an incredible first night of the band’s 2013 Beacon residency, the old theater on Broadway and 74th Street that’s hosted so many legendary concerts was still buzzing from the night’s performance. The lights may have been turned off, the amps powered down and the guitars put away, but the room was still alive and very much electric.

Heartbreakers loyalists will point to the summer tour debut of eight songs in the setlist as evidence of a spectacular night of music, casual fans loved singing along to the radio hits and true music aficionados will forever talk about Mike Campbell’s explosive guitar work on “Good Enough” or Benmont Tench’s epic piano soliloquy on “Melinda.”

The anticipation for these shows has been building since the tour was announced this past winter, and Tom and the band delivered on everyone’s hopes and wishes – for deep album tracks (“Fooled Again,” “Billy The Kid,” “Angel Dream”) and classic hits (“American Girl,” “Refugee,” “Runnin’ Down A Dream”), for surprising covers (“Stepping Stone,” “Willin’,” “Rock & Roll Star”) and special shout-outs (“Cabin Down Below” was dedicated to the Lower East Side bar of the same name).

These are the kind of nights you dream about: a Hall-of-Fame artist backed by one of the greatest rock bands of all time throwing caution to the wind and plunging deep into their catalog at one of the legendary music venues in the world.

If night one is representative of what we are to expect for the rest of the Beacon run, we’re in for something special this week in the Big Apple.

Long after Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers took a final bow at the lip of the stage in front of a sold-out Beacon Theatre and the grateful crowd exited after an incredible first night of the band’s 2013 Beacon residency, the old theater on Broadway and 74th Street that’s hosted so many legendary concerts was still buzzing from the night’s performance. The lights may have been turned off, the amps powered down and the guitars put away, but the room was still alive and very much electric.

Heartbreakers loyalists will point to the summer tour debut of eight songs in the setlist as evidence of a spectacular night of music, casual fans loved singing along to the radio hits and true music aficionados will forever talk about Mike Campbell’s explosive guitar work on “Good Enough” or Benmont Tench’s epic piano soliloquy on “Melinda.”

The anticipation for these shows has been building since the tour was announced this past winter, and Tom and the band delivered on everyone’s hopes and wishes – for deep album tracks (“Fooled Again,” “Billy The Kid,” “Angel Dream”) and classic hits (“American Girl,” “Refugee,” “Runnin’ Down A Dream”), for surprising covers (“Stepping Stone,” “Willin’,” “Rock & Roll Star”) and special shout-outs (“Cabin Down Below” was dedicated to the Lower East Side bar of the same name).

These are the kind of nights you dream about: a Hall-of-Fame artist backed by one of the greatest rock bands of all time throwing caution to the wind and plunging deep into their catalog at one of the legendary music venues in the world.

If night one is representative of what we are to expect for the rest of the Beacon run, we’re in for something special this week in the Big Apple.

Comments

Like Wildbill, I flew over from UK to see one of the Beacon shows (the 4th time I have flown to the States for a TPATH gig since 2006). I was also at both Albert Hall shows last June. That is where the common ground between me and Wildbill ends. I went to the Beacon show last night (23rd) and loved the fact it wasn't the standard set list. "Nightwatchman" and "Have love will travel" were standout. Sure, it's always great to hear the hits but I thought the whole show was fabulous and the band seemed to relish the test of less frequently played material. All in all, well worth the trip. Oh, and I'm here until Monday if anyone has a spare ticket for 25th or 26th!

I think the post was sarcastic and we all missed that it was a joke. Or at least I hope so. Not that I wouldnt mind seeing Tom cover pink floyd LOL!

[edit: OK there is a song called San Tropez on the Meddle album that would be perfect for TP&HB LOL Just sayin.... I can hear Tom singing it now... and its got a great piano solo for Benmont and some slide for Mike....The bottom end is perfect for Steve and Ron. And in a small venue it would have that tight night club sound.... Oh yea.]

There was no sarcasm.
Too bad he didn't enjoy the show.
It's nearly impossible for me to imagine a better one.
Maybe if I got to sing and play drums.
But the rest of you are surely glad that didn't happen.

So sorry you were disappointed, wildbill. As a fan since 1976, I LOVED this show. I get so tired of the greatest hits shows and have been hoping for a show like this where they play from the depths of their archive. Personally, I could have completely done without the hits they played and would have loved to hear more songs like "Fooled Again," "Cabin Down Below" and "Angel Dream." And, I loved the covers - even the ones I'm not as familiar with like "Stepping Stone." In my opinion, this was a great show by one of the greatest bands on the planet!

I was at The Beacon this evening, Tuesday. I saw TP appear last June at The Albert Hall - I live in London - it was an awesome concert, he played all the songs we wanted to hear, The Hall rocked. So, I didn't hesitate to buy tickets for The Beacon, and I flew over for five days, really just for the concert. Disappointed is an understatement. His opening statement was ominous, and apart from one early memorable song we sat through the first 90 minutes as Tom Petty played Pink Floyd, Tom Petty played Led Zepp, Tom Petty played The Beatles, for goodness sake Tom Petty even played Suzi Quattro. It was almost 10.00 pm before Tom Petty played Tom Petty and the building rocked for those last four songs. And so, I fly home tomorrow, disappointed and less than impressed. Why is Tom Petty playing covers when the audience were denied at least a dozen classics from the Greatest Hits Album?

WildBill, where were you the last 8 tours. They were all greatest hit tours. This was unique and what a great night of older songs and covers. Tom hasn't played some of those songs in years and some never were performed. It was awesome!. If you want greatest hits wait for the next tour.

Don't know why on earth you would disappointed with a varied set like that. Yes, he did some covers, but HE ALWAYS HAS DONE COVERS!! You might not have recognized some of his more obscure songs, but they were his. I've seen a dozen of his more "greatest hits" oriented shows, and was happy to get something a little different. "When The Time Comes" was great, and he jokingly said that he hasn't played it since 1978(?)

What show did you attend because it wasn't the Tuesday night Beacon show. I was at the Tuesday night show and there were no covers (other than the Byrds) and it was the greatest TPAHB show I have ever seen and it was my 33rf show. That was the greatest set ever. Wish he's of played a few others but hell, I wish he'd have played all night and played every song he ever recorded. Next time, stay in London and let a real TPAHB fan have your seat!

I also live in London, and I tried sooo hard to find a way to fly out to The Beacon, as I won two of the lotteries for tickets. I can safely say, that as a true Tom Petty fan, I would not have been dissappointed. Surely you'd expect the band to do something a little more interesting than just play through their greatest hits album in such a great venue!

If you flew in from London for a greatest hits show, bad move. Tom is at a stage in his career where he doesn't need to replay old hits the rest of his live shows. Stay home next time and leave more room for true fans who truly appreciate one of the greatest rock bands playing today!!!

My first TPHB show (hopefully not my last) and it was FANTASTIC!! Everything was incredible: the venue, performance, sound, music, guitars, piano, singing... Thank You!! And come back to NYC please. :-)

AWESOME show. The show us true hard core TPHB fans have been waiting for. I love the hits as much as anyone else, but the hit-heavy set lists of the 2006, 2008, and 2010 tours were getting repetive. THIS was the one. THIS time Tom and the boys pulled out some gems. The sound in the Beacon was amazing. The performance was amazing. Wish I could see a few more nights!

When Cabin down Below at The Beacon it was a dream. Tweeter and the Monkey Man is great was hoping Dylan would make an appearance. The set list was so incredible, he promised he would and boy did they deliver!

Thank you Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers for your best show ever! A follower since the early 80s, I have been to quite a few TPATH shows, but this one topped them all! Small (BEAUTIFUL!) venue, deep catalog, favs and covers, it was a magical nite. Worth the trip to NY. Wish I could be at every show this week!